Day 4 - I Timothy 1:3-4

Daily Devotional Commentary on I Timothy

The Historic Reality of the Gospel

h 1 Timothy 1:3-4    h

³As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, ⁴nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

A

s I mentioned in a former lesson, verse 3 is the key to interpreting and understanding this letter since it gives the purpose for the letter’s composition. Timothy is in Ephesus confronting elders/leaders who are spreading false teaching. Paul tells Timothy to “charge” some that they stop teaching this “other” or “different” doctrine. The word “charge” is from the Greek word parangeleis and means “to command.” That these are elders or leaders whom Timothy is to confront is obvious from the fact that they are teachers.

Myths & Endless Genealogies

Verse 4 indicates that this false teaching is made up of fables and endless genealogies. The Greek word for “fable” is muthos from which we get the English word “myth.” A myth is defined as “a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some supernatural being or some alleged person or event with or without a determinable basis of fact or natural explanation.” The 1^st century Greco-Roman world abounded with mythologies. We only have to think of Homer’s Odyssey with its incredible heroic characters and tales of courage to get an idea of mythologies in Paul's day. “Endless genealogies” refers to never-ending speculations about the origins of different people and races. Myths and endless genealogies characterize the nature of the false teaching Timothy is confronting.

The Gospel Is Not a Myth

In contrast, the gospel story is not a myth. All the events that make up the gospel story really happened in time and space. They can be historically validated. Peter emphasizes this in his 2nd letter when he says, For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty (2 Peter 1:16). In 1 Cor. 15:1-6, Paul emphasizes the historical reliability of the message he preaches by mentioning the various ones to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection. He concludes by saying that He was seen by over 500 at one time and that many were still alive at the time of his writing.

An Atheist Discovers that the Gospels Are Not Myths

This reminds me of the brilliant, agnostic trial lawyer in England who set out to disprove Christianity. Frank Morrison realized that Christianity rises and falls on the truth of the resurrection of Jesus. He, therefore, decided to examine the 4 eyewitness accounts of the resurrection in the same way that he would meticulously examine the testimony of witnesses in a court of law. He was certain that he would find such disparity (or likeness, which would prove they collaborated) in the testimonies of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John so as to prove that the resurrection never happened. However, as a result of his investigation, he became convinced that Jesus did rise from the dead and he became a believer. After accepting Christ, he wrote a book entitled Who Moved the Stone in which he presented the results of his investigation, demonstrating that Jesus really did rise from the dead.

My friends, we are not following myths and fables. Our faith is based on a solid foundation of historical fact and reality. Hallelujah!

Prayer & Reflection

O Lord, we give thanks to you today that you are the true and Living God who has come to us in real time and space in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. We rejoice today in Your salvation and we ask that You empower us to make Your name known in all the earth. In Jesus’ name we pray—Amen!